It is unfortunate that these opinion letters almost always degenerate into an "us vs them" name-calling charade.

On the left, Ms. Kenyon throws out some choice words, though at who it's not entirely clear and not in an entirely coherent manner. Are there provincial, classist, religious, or even racist folks in town? Without out a doubt. Is this the "large hunk" of our town? Absolutely not.

On the right, Mr. Tully labels the left "radical" and by exclusion calls them unordinary Americans. To the contrary, most free thinking Americans would object to including right wingers in any group of "ordinary Americans." Then as if to officially announce his card-carrying right-wing status, Mr. Tully then inexplicably takes a detour to call out the radical teachers in our schools. I'm surprised there wasn't a call to burn them at the stake. It's clear there are plenty of "warped views" to go around.

Unfortunately, those of us in the mainstream catch the collateral damage as these two groups lob name bombs at each other from either end of the bell curve.

Posted by frank
a resident of Pleasanton Heights
on Feb 22, 2008 at 8:29 pm

I am pleasantly surprised to find that Mr. Tully stirred up things, because I also read his letter, never earlier having read Ms. Kenyon's, but concluded right then and there that Mr. Tully is a Radical Right Wing Religious Ideologue And Is A Tax Cut and Spend Republican. How's that for labels!!!!!

This is or course what they do. They label you, then paint you with a black brush. Afterwards, as they gain power, they may come after you! (think of 1933-1945, Jews, Communists, Roma, homosexuals, other 'undesirables'.)